Get paid to look after cats in Chicago
$18 to $28 per visit for drop-in cat visits in Chicago. Feed, play, scoop, and send photo updates on your own schedule, and keep up to 90% of every booking with sitter cashback.
Petme is live in Chicago. Get verified and start accepting requests in your neighborhood.
Local know-how pays off in Chicago
December through March brings sub-zero wind chills, lake-effect snow, and heavy road salt along the Lakefront Trail. Chicago sitters rinse salt off paws between blocks, keep walks short during a polar vortex, and switch to indoor enrichment when the wind chill turns dangerous.
When demand peaks
Boarding peaks over the winter-holiday travel window and the June-to-August vacation stretch; daily lunchtime walks run steady year-round for downtown and North Side commuters. Lollapalooza weekend and the October marathon lift short-notice demand.
Know your Chicago routes
Most bookings cluster Lincoln Park to Hyde Park. Owners look for sitters who know the local parks, leash rules, and the breeds they keep, from Labrador, Goldendoodle, French Bulldog.
Keep up to 90%
You set your own rate. Petme keeps a low service fee, and sitter cashback pushes your take-home toward 90% of every booking.
Choose your services, set your own rates
Typical Petme rates in Chicago. You set your own price for each service, and keep up to 90% of every booking with sitter cashback.
Drop-in cat visits
$18 to $28 per visit
House sitting
$45 to $80 per night
Overnight boarding
$45 to $80 per night
Chicago areas that book the most
Petme cat bookings in Chicago come from neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Lakeview, with drop-in visits and house sitting the most requested for cats.
Illinois requires no state pet-sitter licence. Chicago enforces a citywide leash-and-waste ordinance, and the Park District restricts off-leash play to permitted Dog Friendly Areas that need an annual tag. Pet-sitting income is self-employment income on a federal Schedule C, with a 1099-NEC from Petme past $600 a year plus the flat Illinois state income tax.
Built for sitters in Chicago
Keep up to 90%
You set your rate. Petme keeps a low service fee, and sitter cashback pushes your take-home toward 90% of every booking.
Full schedule control
No assigned shifts and no minimum hours. Accept or decline each request and pause your profile whenever you need to.
Protected on every booking
$20,000 in vet protection comes with every confirmed booking, so you are never on the hook alone if something goes wrong.
Cat Sitting Jobs in Chicago
What new sitters ask before signing up on Petme in Chicago.
How much do cat sitters earn per visit in Chicago?
Drop-in cat visits on Petme in Chicago run $18 to $28 per visit. You set your own rate per visit, and with sitter cashback you keep up to 90% of every booking.
Where is cat sitting demand strongest in Chicago?
Petme cat bookings in Chicago come from neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Lakeview, with drop-in visits and house sitting the most requested for cats. Most cat owners book a sitter within their own neighborhood, so listing the areas you cover sharpens your visibility.
What does a typical cat sitting visit involve?
A standard drop-in runs 20 to 30 minutes: feeding, fresh water, litter scooping, playtime, and a photo update to the owner in chat. Many Chicago owners book one or two visits a day while they travel.
Can I set my own visit schedule in Chicago?
Yes. You set your available hours and accept or decline each request. Morning and evening visit slots fill first, and you can stack several nearby visits into one round.
What protection do I get on cat sitting bookings?
Every confirmed Petme booking, including drop-in visits, includes $20,000 in vet protection for the cat in your care, at no cost to you or the owner.
Cat sitting jobs near Chicago
Cover more than one patch. Each city page has its own local rates and demand notes.
Start earning in Chicago
Set your own rate. $20,000 vet protection on every booking, cashback that keeps your clients rebooking, and fast payouts to your bank.